Cutflower Nomenclature

Scientific/Botanical Name:

Genus: Iris

Specie: I.

Variety/Cultivar:

English Name:

 

Common Name:

Iris

Botanical Family:

Name in Latin: Iridaceae

Name in English: The Iris Family

The Plant

Origin: Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, Asia and across North America.

Growth Habit: perennial herbs, growing from creeping rhizomes (rhizomatous irises) or, in drier climates, from bulbs (bulbous irises).

Flower: inflorescences are fan-shaped and contain one or more symmetrical six-lobed flowers. These grow on a pedicel or lack a footstalk. The three sepals, which are spreading or droop downwards, are referred to as "falls".

Blooming Period: spring

Leaf: basal sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps

Usage:

extensively grown as ornamental plants in home and botanical gardens

Care and Handling

Soil: Iris needs well drained soil

Amount of water: Root rot can result if they are planted in soil that stays too wet

Nutrition: Fertilize lightly about 6 weeks before bloom time.

Special handling: They tolerate drought very well, needing water only during the driest part of the summer.

Special feature/remarks:

takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species